New Dunkin’ Donuts gives $2,500 to Timothy Hill

The new Jamesport Dunkin’ Donuts held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Friday morning and pledged to help out the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch in Riverhead, which provides a temporary home to children who are often facing abuse, neglect or other crisis in their own homes.

Sanjay and Neerja Jain, the franchise owners, donated a portion of their opening weekend coffee sales to the Ranch, which they presented with a $2,500 check on Friday.

The Jains also own the Dunkin’ Donut franchises in Southold, Hampton Bays, and two other stores in Riverhead.

“We wanted to contribute to a local organization that believes in uplifting people in need,” Mr. Jain said. “The Timothy Hill Ranch was recommended by a few people.”

“We’ve hired so many kids from there at our other stores,” said store manager Tahira Sevlic . “They are such good kids.”

“Support from community businesses like this helps private a home for young people, age 10-25, who are placed here for various reasons, but often are facing family crisis,” said Debbie Kneidl, the director of advancement at Timothy Hill. “They are provided with a loving home environmental and education.”

Councilman John Dunleavy and franchise owners Sanjay and Neerjas Jain and others at the Jamesport Dunkin’ Donuts ribbon cutting Friday

Timothy Hill provides an onsite learning center, workforce training programs and sports activities for the residents, among other things, she said.

“Support like this will offset those expenses,” she said.

The Timothy Hill was founded in 1980 by Fern and Jerry Hill, “as a safe haven for hundreds of children during desperate times of abuse, neglect and crisis,” according to its website.

The Hills’ “opened their home and hearts to dozens of foster children who were homeless and in need of temporary housing,” the web site says.

The ranch is named for the Hills’ son, Timothy, whose dream was to create a home for children who were homeless and in need of temporary housing, but who was killed at the age of 13 when he was hit by a truck while riding his bike in 1972.